Alison of My Little Happy Place invited me to show her blogger readers a room in my house. I didn't know what room to choose so I asked Paisley to pick. Seeing as how this is the room that we have to close the doors to at night because Paisley would sleep on the sofa every single night if she were allowed, I figured it would classify as her favorite.
You've seen the room before when I posted about my matchbooks, but maybe you want to see more? You can check it out (with others bloggers homes) on Alison's blog here.
I like to keep it real. Alison wanted "real life, imperfect rooms"... well this is definitely one of those. The room is a strange shape (long and skinny) and serves many purposes. I call it the "den", but it's really a "laundry room"-slash-"home-office"-slash-"guest room"-slash-"craft room". All-in-all it has good light and it makes me happy. My little happy place.
It's right off the entry to our house...
And quite a hodge-podge of furniture... mostly things I can't part with that just happen to land here...
And there are the everyday things everyone needs... like a printer, wireless router, and Scotch tape...
And under the skirted table... the craft supplies and extension cords you might store in a closet, but I don't have a closet for such, so I store them here...
The view looking towards the sofa...
And looking back the other way...
You might notice the Brimfield bassinet, well check out this Clarence House dog fabric Annmarie found at a sale... how could I resist a fabric with black & white dogs?
Behind closed doors... Powell Laundry Central. The little flat screen tv is on an articulating arm... which makes for awesome tv viewing on the sofa... when Chance and I can't agree on what to watch in the living room one of us end up in this room.
My lucite table came from Goodwill for $20. It's HEAVY and I love it.
And just to keep it really real... I stash crap projects in corners, like under the table. I bought the tartan bag a couple of years ago and haven't found a home for it (yet). The camera bag holds my mom's old camera. The turquoise lamp is waiting for me to re-wire it.
Hate to assume that you all care about the details, but history tells me to anticipate questions like these:
What color are the walls? Sherwin Williams "Hardware" SW6172. If you have been to my office, this is the same color as the exterior of my office. It's a dark gray/brown.
What's the paisley fabric on the skirted table? I have no idea... there was no name on the selvedge - I bought it as a remnant at Old Time Pottery.
Who makes the sofa? Rowe, and I think it is the Monaco. I broke 2 of my usual rules here... not only is it a sectional, but it's also a sleeper (gasp)... both of which I'm not usually a fan, but it was a bargain... a major bargain. Bought it at a local furniture store clearance center (now closed).
What fabric is on the sofa? No idea.
Is Paisley for sale? No, she isn't... but if you can find a dog like her (she and her sister are both Terrihuahuas, which is a mix of a Jack Russell Terrier and a Chihuahua (we don't use the m-u-t-t word in our house), but I think she's got a little hound-dog in her too, she sings a lot and has really soft floppy years) - find a dog like her and I promise you'll be in love! We found her in the paper, you can see the article here - her name was Princess - which was not suitable. And we got Penelope on Petfinder.com!
The chest from Round Top? Yes, and I still haven't refinished it! The lucite cabinet pulls sitting on top of it are from another chest in my house.
Who makes your washer and dryer? Frigidaire, from Lowes. On sale because they were black. I wouldn't have picked black, but they were on sale. I like "on sale". But dryer lint + black dryer = OCD
Do you like your washer and dryer? Yes, still liking them VERY MUCH. I was leery of the whole front-loading... but would do at all over again in a heart beat. I wrote a post about them here when I first bought them.
The mustard-yellow table story? Bought it and the chairs for a project, but then my husband accidentally spilled air conditioning coil cleaner on it and ruined one corner... pulled the paint off (hiding under the lamp) so I kept it. It's great for folding clothes!
The matchbooks? Kane County Flea Market (Chicago), Boy Scout project dated 1939. Framed them myself with Target frames and mats from Hobby Lobby.
Is this your office? No, this is not my office... this is my office.
Do you wish you had a rug in here? This is one of the rooms in my house that I keep buying rugs for, but then always return them. The shape of the room is not great for a rug... so I'm satisfied with the bare wood floors.
What are you floors? White Oak
Light fixture? West Elm 4 years ago
Your drapery and roman shade fabric? Black-Out Lined Barbara Barry for Kravet... pattern "Signature", color "Platinum"
Your drapery hardware? Galvanized pipe (for electrical and plumbing use... from Home Depot)
The scientific growth of corn chart? Round Top, TX
Let me know if you have any more questions and I'll add them to this list! Happy Memorial Day weekend my friends!!!
Alison, thanks for including me and my little happyplace in your round-up!
Love Paisely on the table and coveting your lucite one as well.
Posted by: Alicia | May 23, 2009 at 03:35 AM
And I thought there would be no interesting blogs to read on the holiday weekend. I love this!
Love that it's real.
Have a great weekend!
Posted by: Debra | May 23, 2009 at 06:35 AM
what a fun peek! :) happy LONG weekend!!
Posted by: Katie | May 23, 2009 at 09:03 AM
Thanks for sharing! Love the fabric for the skirted table. Practical yet beautiful.
Enjoy the holiday weekend!
Posted by: Southern Aspirations | May 23, 2009 at 09:22 AM
Love Love Love your room, matchbook artwork is amazing, really amazing...
I do have a question ??? Your drapery hardware? Galvanized pipe (for electrical and plumbing use... from Home Depot) I love the idea, I need to put my drapery up on new rod, could you explain what parts you purchased and how they go up...maybe a closeup picture of the pieces....my drapery is very heavy...would this be a good idea, can it take alot of weight?
Regards, CAMdesign, Carol Ann
Posted by: Carol Ann | May 23, 2009 at 12:17 PM
im in love love love with that wall color..only thing i can look at right now is gray (odd since its summer!) but there's just something about it. :D
Posted by: Lauren | May 23, 2009 at 01:19 PM
hi erika. love the room. question... what's your philosophy/theory on painting ceilings say the wall color or coordinating color? thanks. pam
Posted by: pam | May 23, 2009 at 01:32 PM
Oh dear, how did you not include deets on the Scotch tape holders? You had to know someone would ooggle over them. Please do tell us where they are from.
Posted by: beautifuliving | May 23, 2009 at 11:01 PM
That yellow table fabric is by P Kaufman...Gypsy something. I just ordered it in "Gypsy Breeze"..It's the same fabric your sister has for in the girl's room. I love it...
Mandy
Posted by: Mandy Scales | May 24, 2009 at 12:15 AM
Fabuloso! Love the windows, the blue lamp, and so glad the doggies are in! They look cute in the famous bassinet. Now, I think I need to skirt me some tables around here and stash my piles...
Posted by: Annmarie | May 24, 2009 at 08:07 AM
Hey there...I'm looking for your post on "designing rules that you follow". I can't find it, though. We have just bought a new house and before I go paint happy, I want to consult an expert. Do you remember that blog entry? Cheers ~ amanda
Posted by: amanda wallace | May 24, 2009 at 09:51 AM
Love the room Erica! I have a small dog about the size of yours and she just thinks that my dining table is her personal bed!
Posted by: Abby | May 24, 2009 at 10:10 AM
your home is fantastic!!!! and I adore your dog....
Posted by: Abbey | May 24, 2009 at 01:09 PM
fun, happy room.
Posted by: Michele | May 25, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Thanks for sharing what you've done. You have made ur place functional & beautiful at the same time. So many details that are just so amazing!
Posted by: maureen | May 25, 2009 at 11:22 PM
that paint color is fabulous and i'm trying to think of how to work it in to our house.
Posted by: jane | May 26, 2009 at 09:15 AM
Thanks for sharing, Erika! I love the "realness" of it.
Posted by: beki | May 26, 2009 at 09:41 AM
WHERE have my manners been???? Hangin' by the pool, and eating homemade ice cream, I guess! THANK YOU for the kind shout out you gave me and MLHP!
Hope your weekend was relaxing!
Take Care,
alison g.
Posted by: alison g. (brazil) | May 26, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Thanks so much for sharing your home with us! It's always so much fun to see fellow blogger's abodes.
xo Katherine aka. Urban Flea :)
www.urbanfleadesign.com
Posted by: Katherine aka. Urban Flea | May 26, 2009 at 02:11 PM
Could you tell me the source for your industrial kitchen light fixtures? Awesome kitchen!
Posted by: Stacey Schettler | May 26, 2009 at 02:44 PM
What On Earth... who should I see sitting on a table in her office but you! @
myhomeideas.com today
Secrets to a beautiful kitchen.
Congratulations on a little extra press!
Posted by: Kandace | May 26, 2009 at 08:05 PM
Ps.... your office looks tidy in that photo!
Posted by: Kandace | May 26, 2009 at 08:06 PM
I love love love that wall of pictures!!
Posted by: PamperingBeki | May 26, 2009 at 09:16 PM
this room makes me happy as well. thanks for sharing! love the q&a section. :)
Posted by: megan | May 27, 2009 at 12:37 PM
love the photo with the dog on the table!
Posted by: leni | May 27, 2009 at 01:41 PM
What about the squirrel?
Posted by: Carlton | May 27, 2009 at 03:38 PM
Love your room - what a happy place to live in! The wall color reminds me very much of my hallway color (yup, after an entire year it is finally painted). I used Benjamin Moore Eagle Rock, a rich velvety grey brown shade that pops with the white woodwork. Thank you again for sharing a part of your life with all of us.
Posted by: Alcea Alba | May 27, 2009 at 04:49 PM
I love your wooden floor. Are they natural wood? How old are they?
Posted by: Claire | May 28, 2009 at 06:55 AM
Thank you for the tour, Erika.
Love your arrangement of all of your artwork, your couch against that beautiful wall color. I am a big fan of white oak floors. We used them in our office and left them unfinished, except for a clear protector. Just gorgeous.
Happy weekend.
xo
Brooke
Posted by: velvet and linen | May 29, 2009 at 08:02 AM
love it!!! it's so real but still so beautiful... lots of energy &U fun
xoxo
Posted by: Lauren Liess | May 29, 2009 at 01:34 PM
hi erika! let me just start this off by saying i LOVE your blog. it is the best!
ok, well, this has nothing to do with this post but i was just wondering...how tall are you? i was looking in the pictures from the emmy's and saw you next to susan lucci and you looked so teeny tiny!
Posted by: lauren | May 29, 2009 at 02:43 PM
What a great room!
Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: layersofmeaning | May 29, 2009 at 03:29 PM
I love your lucite table, Erika! I wish it weren't from Goodwill, cause then I could copycat it! xo
Posted by: The Lil Bee | May 30, 2009 at 07:49 PM
i LOVE.IT.ALL!!! i love the light and wish west elm still had it...would love it for above my dining room table...love the science chart..must find one!! love the skirted table, lucite table...all of it!! show more areas of your home, please!!
Posted by: no.35style | June 01, 2009 at 04:45 PM
Hey, excellent post! Appreciate you taking the time to put this article up.
I'll be the very first to admit that I adore storage cabinets. I can't even imagine living without having them now, they just make it so darn simple to stay organized. Yeah, I am a small OCD! I was kinda bummed when I needed to get rid of some of my cabinets when I moved last year, I just didn't have room to take all of them, especially since I knew my new location was going to be smaller. Fortunately, I was able to maintain several cabinets. They truly are so convenient, I can very easily maintain all of my clutter organized and contained so that it doesn't take more than my home! Now I can reclaim more of my room and really use it instead of it being taken more than by clutter. The best component is I can tuck them aside out of sight but still get to them easily when I need them.
Posted by: Outdoor Storage Cabinets | July 07, 2010 at 10:39 PM